Thursday, July 4, 2013

Homeowner Safety Tips for the 4th of July and Other Firework Related Holidays

More fires are reported in the United States on the Fourth of
July than on any other day, and fireworks account for more than half of
those blazes, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Protecting
your home, your roof, and those underneath should be first priority. In
the rush to enjoy the holiday, don't forget to keep a cool head.

There
is good reason to be concerned for your safety, for the facts are
startling. Fires caused an estimated $38 million in property damage
during the 4th of July holiday last year alone. One thing homeowners may
not be aware of is that if you choose to set off fireworks in an
illegal area any resulting damage may not be covered by your homeowner
policy.

The worst part of the statistics is that children are the
most injured during this time of year, and most fires from fireworks are
caused by something as innocuous as sparklers.

When planning your
4th of July celebration, or any other fireworks related event, you
should always make sure that your family and guest will be safe.
Research local laws and even consider attending a professional display
in your area rather than lighting your own fireworks this holiday.
If you plan on setting off fireworks at home, here are some safety tips.

Read and follow all direction on firework packages.

Consider a child's age before they are allowed to participate in the
use of fireworks. Make sure they are supervised at all times.

Discuss fireworks safety with children at length before the show.

Light fireworks outdoors in a clear area away from houses or flammable materials such as dry leaves or grass.

Make sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.

Never ignite fireworks in a container.

Keep a bucket of water nearby in case of fireworks emergencies.

Do not relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Instead, soak them in water and throw them away.

Do not place any part of your body over a firework while lighting it.

Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.

Many
of you have been so concerned with the devastation from Hurricane Sandy
and the wind damage to your home, don't let that make you forget
standard safety rules for the 4th of July like those listed above. New
Jersey needs to stay first of all safe!

Denise Grier is the social media manager for Cook Construction
Roofing Division, currently working in the New Jersey area on Hurricane
Sandy relief. Visit their blog at http://cookconstructionroofing.biz and follow them on Facebook and Twitter from there.